Anyway, I'm home from three days in Denver and I had a great, great time! It is absolutely beautiful. There is something about the west that has always appealed to me. I love how everything is spacious but still not completely remote and hillbillyian. I like to make up words.
So, a quick recap as I am going to really suffer this week if I don't readjust to Eastern time.
Susan picked me up from the airport and we immediately drove to downtown Denver. We checked out some cute shops in Cherry Creek and then we headed for Larimar Square. Before deciding where we would stop for dinner, we decided to go to Corridor 44 for some champagne cocktails. A picture exists of the two of us; but I just flew for four hours sans makeup and I'm just not willing to share. I will; however, share the drinks:
and the site of the very cute champagne bar:
http://www.corridor44.com/wine.htm#cocktails
After that, we met with Susan's coworker and friend, Alyssa, for Mexican food at Lime.
http://www.limecantina.com
Again, a picture of the most important part, the drinks:
Mmmmmm....
After dinner and drinks, we went to Club M where the Denver Cycle Sluts were hosting Drag Queen Bingo. So funny. I was kind of happy that I didn't win since the prizes included boxed mac and cheese and instant mashed potatoes, but this was all in the name of a charity and good times were had by all.
http://denvercyclesluts.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
Susan and I slept in on Saturday morning and then had an extremely girly afternoon of Sex and the City DVD's in our pajamas. That's right boys, our sexy flannel pajamas. We did eventually pull ourselves together and went out to Boulder. I love Boulder! Everyone is athletic or hippyish, and almost always pretty. It's just a pretty place with pretty people. We had dinner The Sunflower that serves organic, local foods via pretty waiters. We shared a beans and spreads appetizer and for dinner, I had the bamboo steamer with grilled tofu. I wondered what Matt would have ordered if he had come along, and decided that it would have been the buffalo sirloin with french fries and I was a little sad that he wasn't there so I could have just a bite! I had to order the grilled tofu though because that's just not possible in any restaurant within 20 miles of my home. There was no room for dessert but I enjoyed the smell of the apple thing the girl next to me was enjoying with her decadent-looking coffee.
http://www.sunflowerrestaurant.net/menus/new%20dinner%20menu.pdf
While walking through the main drag in Boulder, we encountered the "zip code guy." He asked if anyone was out of town and before I answered him, three little boys with candy apples announced that one was about to lose a tooth. He asked them to play "who can eat the candy apple the fastest," and then asked again for anyone out of town. I told him that I was from 21122 and he somehow knew that zip code belongs to Pasadena, Maryland. I let it slide when he named Phillip's Seafood as the place to eat in Pasadena, (since it's in Annapolis or Baltimore, and wouldn't exactly be MY first choice,) but nevertheless, it was quite impressive.
http://www.zipcodeman.com
Sunday morning, we woke up fairly early and went to Boulder again to wander and have brunch at Lucille's with Susan's friend Charles. There was a 20 minute wait so we walked around a few blocks and I enjoyed looking at the charming houses. I don't know if or when I will be able to afford a home, but I really hope that it can be one with character and not one with vinyl siding.
Susan took me to The Hill, which is a cute little college area and I had my nose pierced. Ha ha. The last time I had my nose pierced was in the summer of 1996, during my senior week in Ocean City, Maryland. I kept it in my nose for a week for fear of what my mom would say. It is bugging me right now because I can't decide if it's okay for a 29 year old to get her nose pierced. Is it hip or tragic? The tragedy might be that I still care. Regardless, the perpetual boogie-in-my-nose feeling might be the reason that this nose ring doesn't last more than a few days.
After piercing my nose, Susan and I drove to the mountains. I wish we had more time so that we could go hiking, but I fully intend on going back one day. The Chautauqua Park was stunning. The flatirons, the trees, the magpies! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves:
